3x3 Women's Series in Orleans - Full Report

Would second time be the charm for Canada in France? Just days after competing in Clermont-Ferrand the Canadian team travelled just 300km north to Orleans for the second French tournament on the 2024 3x3 Women's Series.

The same team that made it to the final in Clermont-Ferrand were in action in Orleans - team mainstays Katherine Plouffe and Paige Crozon along with up-and-comers in the 3x3 game, Cassandra Brown and Mackenzie Smith. This time the team were hoping to go one step further than they did days before.

Day one saw the twelve teams play in four pools of three, the top two in each progressing to the knockout stage the next day. Looking to regain the top spot in the Women's Series rankings, Canada would be playing in Pool A, their first match against Israel.

Canada had a hard time containing Dor Sarr, who had six of Israel's first seven points and proved hard to contain. Brown led Canada in closing the gap to one point and play became scrappy down the final stretch as they worked hard to try and find the win, while the Israelis were doing everything to prevent that.

With time running out Canada put up three points within the space of a minute, making the scores 15-14, then prevented their opponents from scoring again. Behind a defensive clinic from Plouffe, who had eleven total rebounds in this last-gasp win for Canada, who then would see themselves suffering a shock loss to Clermont-Ferrand.

After a strong start where Plouffe and Smith found plenty of points in the paint, the French team - which boasted Eve Wembanyama on its roster - went on a five-point unbroken run and led by four at the midway point. Plouffe did all she could to try and instigate a way back for Canada, but with Camile Drouget still converting from close range, it was all a matter of time for Clermont-Ferrand.

Despite the loss Canada progress as pool runners-up and were set to face the Netherlands in the quarter finals. There was almost nothing between the teams for the first five minutes of the game, until Crozon and Plouffe combined for a 6-1 run which put them up by four, only for the Dutch to respond with five points almost instantly and the lead went back to them.

Always able to find open looks from the field, Plouffe then gave the slender lead to Canada, but the Dutch would not let them build on that lead and kept the game tight, but as time ran out in the quarter final Crozon would have the last say - and it would be that Canada would go through to the semi finals.

From here they faced familiar foes, the ones who had denied them a win in Clermont-Ferrand, host nations France once again on the warpath. They had won every game in Orelans by double digits so far and continued that momentum against Canada, opening with five points unanswered. When Canada finally made the score sheet, France went further into the lead, reaching six midway through the game and climbing.

Canada tried to slow the game down but every time they sent France to the free-throw line they converted, putting them closer and closer to victory. A final shot from Laetita Guapo put the game to bed and sent Canada packing.

Good news for the home crowd was they got to see an all-French final, the team that saw off Canada meeting Clermont-Ferrand for the Orleans title and won a nail-biter in overtime. Good news for Canada was that, despite falling short again, they are on the right track. Plouffe and Crozon continue to be big threats on offence and Brown and Smith are starting to find their feet with the 3x3 team.

The best news for Canada and their fans is is that there will only be a week before they will next be on the 3x3 court, most excitingly they will be on home soil. The next stop on the 3x3 Women's Series will be in Quebec, tipping off on June 29th. Check back here for full coverage of the first women's 3x3 event in Canada this year, and follow this link for more on the Orleans stop.